New plan to snare vandals

SHATTERED . . . the damaged greenhouse

VANDALS who have repeatedly targeted allotments will be met with “robust” action in a bid to halt a string of incidents.

That’s the stark warning from police after they stepped up patrols to snare the youths who are making the lives of gardeners at the Constantine Street plots in Greenacres a misery.

Bobbies on the beat will be taking a zero tolerance approach to the yobs who are smashing greenhouses and damaging flowers and vegetables.

More than £250 worth of criminal damage was caused on the site over the weekend alone.

PC Sarah Bull said: “This is mindless damage being caused to something that gives people pleasure, and something which people invest a lot of time and effort into.

“The anti-social behaviour is not just rowdy behaviour and drinking, it is also litter which prevents others from enjoying the areas that Oldham Council invests in for our enjoyment. The police will not tolerate this mindless damage being caused to people’s property, and will act robustly against offenders.

“This may also mean parents being made to account for their children’s behaviour, and being asked to act accordingly.”

The Greenacres Allotment Society has been picking up the pieces for months now, after secretary John Sawford told the Chronicle back in May there had never been a problem before.

Police believe the problem stems from congregating youths on the newly-developed playground at Leesbrook Nature Park.

To combat the underage drinking near by, police are currently conducting visits to licensed premises which have been identified as serving alcohol to youths.

Several off-licences are currently under review by Oldham Council’s licensing department as a result of recent test purchases.

The council carried out a survey of the land, with a view to putting measures in place to tackle the consistent problem.